The Phantom Agony
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [1] |
| Sputnikmusic | [2] |
| Musical Discoveries | [3] |
| Metal Ship |    [4] |
| Lords of Metal | [5] |
| Metal Reviews | [6] |
The Phantom Agony is the first full-length studio album by Dutch symphonic metal band Epica. It was released in 2003 by the Dutch label Transmission Records. It is the first album recorded by guitarist Mark Jansen after his departure from the band After Forever. On this album, Mark Jansen continues with the collection of songs that make up "The Embrace That Smothers". The first three parts can be found on Prison of Desire (2000), After Forever's debut album, and the following three parts can be found on The Divine Conspiracy (2007), Epica's third album. These songs deal with the dangers of organized religion.[7]
Themes
This album's lyrics are mostly based on events that happened during the writing of the album.
- "Cry for the Moon" is based on the abuse of children by Catholic priests. It has been released as a single in 2004.
- "Feint" was written after the murder of Pim Fortuyn.
- "Façade of Reality" is based on the September 11, 2001 attacks. It features two fragments from a speech by Tony Blair.
- "Run for a Fall" expresses Mark's frustrations towards his former band After Forever.
- "Seif al Din" is about Islamic fundamentalism.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Notes | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Adyta (The Neverending Embrace ~ Prelude ~)" | S. Simons | M. Jansen | 1:27 | |
| 2. | "Sensorium" | M. Jansen | M. Jansen, A. Sluijter, C. Janssen, S. Simons | 4:47 | |
| 3. | "Cry for the Moon (The Embrace That Smothers, Part IV)" | M. Jansen | M. Jansen, A. Sluijter, S. Simons | The third single | 6:44 |
| 4. | "Feint" | M. Jansen | M. Jansen, A. Sluijter, C. Janssen, S. Simons | The second single | 4:18 |
| 5. | "Illusive Consensus" | S. Simons | M. Jansen, A. Sluijter, C. Janssen, S. Simons | 4:59 | |
| 6. | "Façade of Reality (The Embrace That Smothers, Part V)" | M. Jansen | M. Jansen, A. Sluijter, S. Simons | 8:10 | |
| 7. | "Run for a Fall" | M. Jansen | M. Jansen, A. Sluijter, C. Janssen, S. Simons | 6:31 | |
| 8. | "Seif al Din (The Embrace That Smothers, Part VI)" | M. Jansen | M. Jansen, A. Sluijter | 5:47 | |
| 9. | "The Phantom Agony" | M. Jansen | M. Jansen, A. Sluijter, Y. Huts | 9:00 |
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | {{{extra_column}}} | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | "The Phantom Agony (single version)" | M. Jansen | M. Jansen, A. Sluijter, Y. Huts | The first single, bonus track on some editions | 4:35 |
| 11. | "Triumph of Defeat" | instrumental | C. Janssen | Bonus track on Japanese edition | 3:58 |
Personnel
Band members
- Simone Simons - mezzo-soprano
- Mark Jansen - guitars, grunts, screams, orchestral arrangements
- Ad Sluijter - guitars
- Coen Janssen - synths & piano, orchestral and choir arrangements
- Yves Huts - bass guitar
- Jeroen Simons - drums
Additional musicians
- Olaf Reitmeier - acoustic guitars on "Feint" and "Run for a Fall", engineer
- Annette Berryman - flute on "Run for a Fall"
- Epica Orchestra
- Thomas Glöckner - violin
- Andreas Pfaff - violin
- Tobias Rempe - violin
- Marie-Theres Stumpf - viola
- David Schlage - viola
- Jörn Kellermann - cello
- Cordula Rhode - cello
- Andrè Neygenfind - contrabass
- Epica Choir
- Melvin Edmonsen - bass
- Previn Moore - tenor
- Bridget Fogle - alto
- Cinzia Rizzo - alto
- Annie Goeble - soprano
- Amanda Somerville - soprano, vocal coach
Production
- Sascha Paeth - producer, engineer, mixing
- Robert Hunecke-Rizzo - orchestral arrangements
- Hans van Vuuren - executive producer, coordination and research
- Peter van 't Riet - mastering
Singles
Cry for the Moon
"Cry for the Moon" is a symphonic metal song by Epica. It is the third single released from their debut album, The Phantom Agony.
Track listing
- "Cry for the Moon" (single version) - 3:33
- "Cry for the Moon" - 6:44
- "Run for a Fall" (single version) - 4:29
- "Run for a Fall" - 6:31
References
- ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Epica The Phantom Agony review". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
- ^ "Epica The Phantom Agony full review". Sputnikmusic. 11 September 2010. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
- ^ Elliot, Russell W. (2 March 2004). "Epica / The Phantom Agony". Musical Discoveries.com. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
- ^ des Dragones, Elric (16 July 2010). "Chronique de The Phantom Agony" (in French). Metal Ship.org. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
- ^ Barten, Michiel. "Epica - The Phantom Agony". Lords of Metal.nl. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
- ^ "Epica - The Phantom Agony". Metal Reviews.com. Retrieved 2011-07-10.
- ^ "Epica (Nld) - The Phantom Agony". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved 2010-05-10.
- ^ The Phantom Agony (Media notes). The Netherlands: Transmission Records. 2003.
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